Catalytic converter

ABSTRACT

A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR REMOVING NOXIOUS POLLUTANTS FROM AN EXHAUST GAS STREAM HAVING A CONVERSION CHAMBER MOUNTED THEREIN. GAS INLETS AND OUTLETS ARE PROVIDED IN OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER AND WITH A BYPASS PASSAGE AROUND SAID CHAMBER. A VALVE IS CONNECTED TO SAID INLET OR OUTLETS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE GAS FLOW THROUGH TTHE CONVERTER SO THAT THE EXHAUST GASES PASSING THROUGH THE CONVERTER MAY OR MAY NOT BE SUBJECTED TO THE ACTION OF THE CONVERSION CHAMBER DEPENDING UPON THE POSITIONING OF SAID VALVE.

June 19, 1973 1 ETAL 3,740,197

CATALYTIC CONVERTER Filed May 10, 197] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GEORGEE. SCHEITLIN RICHARD F. LITTLE BY ATTORNEYS June 19, 1973 5. scHgl ETAL3,740,197

CATALYTIC CONVERTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1971 GEORGE ESCHEITLIN RI CHARD F. L I TTLE June 19, 1973 G- E. SCHEITLIN ET ALCATALYTIC CONVERTER Filed May 10, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet A I67 I55 16? I701e? l b l '58 us? I85 :80

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I76 I67 I66 INVENTORS GEORGE E. SCHEITLIN RICHARD F. LITTLE BY, 1 ATToRwrs United States Patent O1 3,740,197 Patented June 19, 1973 hoe . FiledMay 10, 1971, Ser. No. 141,626

Int. Cl. Fllln 3/14; B01j 9/04 US. Cl. 23288 F 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from anexhaust gas stream having a conversion chamber mounted therein. Gasinlets and outlets are prvoided in open communication with said chamberand with a bypass passage around said chamber. A valve is connected tosaid inlet or outlets for selectively controlling the gas flow throughthe converter so that the exhaust gases passing through the convertermay or may not be subjected to the action of the conversion chamberdepending upon the positioning of said valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Catalytic converters for removing noxiouspollutants from an automobile exhaust gas stream are known in the art.US. Pats. No. 2,991,160 and No. 3,090,677 show such a converter whichalso employs a bypass so that the exhaust gases moving therethrough mayor may not be subjected to the action of a catalytic material forremoving the pollutants therefrom, depending upon whether the exhaustgases are directed through, or bypassed around, the catalytic material.

The instant invention is concerned with an improved catalytic converterprovided with a bypass for the catalytic material which can be simplyand easily constructed, and which will prove sturdy and durable in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one form of the invention,there is provided an elongated shell closed at its ends by a pair of endcaps. A sleeve is carried within the shell, and a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apertured plates extend across said sleeve to formtherewith a plurality of longitudinally spaced conversion chambersadapted to hold catalytic material for removing the noxious pollutantsin the exhaust gas stream passing through said chambers.

End plates are mounted in said sleeve outwardly from the outermost endsof the conversion chambers. And a first set of inlet and outlet conduitsare mounted in the end caps with their inner ends terminating betweensaid end plates and the outermost ends of the conversion chambers. Inthis manner, the exhaust gases moving through the converter between saidfirst set of inlet and outlet conduits will be forced to flow throughthe conversion chambers to remove the pollutants therefrom.

The sleeve is spaced inwardly from the end caps and is supported inspaced relation to the shell by a plurality of supports extending aroundsaid sleeve with the space around the sleeve defining an annular bypasspassage through the converter. A second set of inlet and outlet conduitsare mounted in the end caps with their inner ends terminating outwardlyof said end plates. Thus, said second set of inlet and outlet conduitsare in open communication with said bypass passage so that the exhaustgases moving through the converter between said second set of inlet andoutlet conduits will not pass through the conversion chambers.

The inlet conduits in said first and second sets of conduits areinterconnected outside the extent of the converter, and a valve islocated at their junction for selectively controlling the gas flowthrough the converter between the desired sets of inlet and outletconduits.

Conveniently, a tube having a plurality of openings formed thereinextends across the sleeve between the adjacent ends of a pair of theconversion chambers. Said tube is adapted to be connected to a source ofpressurized air for supplying air to the conversion chamber interposedbetween it and the outlet conduit in said second set of inlet and outletconduits so that said chamber can operate in an oxidizing atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustratethe invention. In such drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal horizontal section of a catalytic converterembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal horizontal section similar to FIG. 1, butshowing a modified form of the converter;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal horizontal section similar to FIG. 1, butshowing another modified form of the converter; and

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section similar to FIG. 1, but showing stillanother modified form of the converter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The noxious pollutantsin automobile exhaust systems can be generally classified into two basicgroups; the oxidizable groupthe noxious hydrocarbons and carbonmonoxide, and the reducible groupthe oxides of nitogen. These pollutantscan be most effectively removed from the exhaust gases if they arereacted with catalysts which are selective for each group and under theoptimum conditions of reaction. Thus, with the catalysts presentlyavailable, the most efficient removal of the pollutants from the exhaustgases can be achieved by reacting the exhaust gases with a catalystselective for the oxides of nitrogen in a reducing or non-oxidizingatmosphere and by reacting the exhaust gases with a catalyst selectivefor carbon monoxide and the noxious hydrocarbons in an oxidizingatmosphere. This invention provides structure which, in addition toproviding a means for permitting the exhaust gases to bypass suchcatalysts, also, if desired, makes the selective treatment of theexhaust gases possible.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, the converter comprises anelongated shell 10 closed at its ends by a pair of end caps 12 and 13rigidly connected to said shell as by welding. A sleeve 16 is disposedwithin the shell 10 in spaced relation thereto and with its opposed endsterminating inwardly in spaced relation to the end caps 12 and 13. Thesleeve is supported within the shell on a plurality of longitudinallyspaced annular supports 18. Each of said supports has a plurality ofopenings 20 formed therein so that the space between the shell andsleeve defines an annular gas passage indicated at 22.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four longitudinally spaced plates 25, 26, 27,and 28, are mounted in the sleeve 16 and extend thereacross. The plates25 and 26, together with the portion of the sleeve 16 interposedtherebetween, define a first conversion chamber 29, and in a likemanner, the plates 27 and 28, together with the portion of the sleeveinterposed therebetween, define a second conversion chamber 30 inlongitudinally spaced relation to the 3 chamber 29. Each of the plates25-28 has a plurality of slotted openings 32 so that the gas can passlongitudinally through the two chambers 29 and 30.

The chambers 29 and 30 are adapted to hold any desired type of catalyticmaterial or materials which effects conversion of the noxious pollutantsin the exhaust gases into non-noxious components. Such catalysts may bein the form of pellets inserted into the chamber prior to assembling theplates 25, 28, 44 and 46 thereon. Conveniently, to refill the chambers,or to fill them after assembly, fill tubes 34 are mounted in the shelland extend into the chambers 29 and 30, said tubes being closeable as byscrew caps 36.

The exhaust gases to be reacted with the catalyst or catalysts areintroduced into the converter through an inlet conduit 40 carried in ashouldered aperture 41 in end cap 12. The inner end of said conduit iscarried in a shouldered aperture 42 formed in an imperforate end plate44 mounted in the sleeve 16 and extending thereacross whereby saidconduit forms a gas flow inlet for the chambers 29 and 30. In order touniformly distribute the gas flow across the plate 25, which plateconstitutes the inlet of chamber 29, a baffle plate 46 having aplurality of openings 47 formed therein is mounted in the sleeve 16between the plates and 44. After passing successively through thechambers 29 and the gases are discharged from the converter through anoutlet conduit 48 whose inner end is carried in a shouldered aperture 50in an imperforate end plate 51 mounted in the shell 16 at the endthereof adjacent the end cap 13. Said conduit projects through and issupported in a shouldered aperture 52 formed in the end cap 13 and thusforms a gas flow outlet for the chambers 29 and 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second inlet conduit 55 is also mounted in the endcap 12 in a shouldered aperture 56 formed therein. In a like manner, asecond outlet conduit 57 is also mounted in the end cap 13 in ashouldered aperture 58 formed therein. The inner ends of the conduits 55and 57 are in open communication with the interior of converteroutwardly from the end plates 44 and 51 and form a gas flow inlet andoutlet for the bypass passage. Thus, the exhaust gases entering theconverter through the inlet conduit 55 will move through the bypasspassage 22 around the sleeve 16 and be discharged through the outletconduit 57 without passing through either of the conversion chambers 29and 30. Like the conduits 40 and 48, the conduits 55 and 57 arelongitudinally olfset from one another.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inlet conduits 40 and 55 are joined, as at 60,and are adapted to be connected upstream therefrom to an exhaust gassource (not shown). A valve 61 is located at the inlet conduit juncture60 and is movable between its full line position shown in FIG. 1 inwhich the exhaust gases are directed through the chambers 29 and 30 andits dotted line position in which said gases are directed through thebypass passage 22. Conveniently, the outlet conduits 48 and 57 arejoined, as at 62, and are adapted to be connected downstream therefromto an exhaust pipe (not shown). As will be understood, a valve likevalve 61 can be located in the outlet conduit juncture 62 forcontrolling the gas flow through the converter. Such a valve in theexhaust conduits can be employed in addition to, or in lieu of, thevalve 61.

Conveniently, in order that the chamber 29 can operate in anon-oxidizing atmosphere and the chamber 30 in an oxidizing atmosphere,a tube 63 having a series of openings 64 therein extends across thesleeve 16 between the chambers 29 and 30. As shown, one end of said tubeis supported in a bracket 65 mounted on the sleeve between the plates 26and 27 and the opposite end of said tube projects outwardly throughaligned openings 66 and 67 in the sleeve and shell for connection to asource of pressurized air. With the natural gas flow from the chamber 29to the chamber 30, the air injected through the tube 63 will be sweptalong with the gas flow to the chamber 30 so that the catalyst thereinwill be in an oxidizing atmosphere while the catalyst in chamber 29remains in a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 differs from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-5 primarily in the construction of the gas flow inlet. Thus, theconverter illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises an elongated shell 70 closedat its ends by a pair of end caps 71 and 72 rigidly connected thereto.The conversion chamber 74, which is adapted to hold catalytic materialfor removing the noxious pollutants from the exhaust gases is disposedwithin the shell 70 in spaced relation thereto. Said chamber is formedfrom a sleeve 76 having a pair of longitudinally spaced apertured plates78 and 79 extending thereacross with the plate 78 forming the inlet endof the chamber and the plate 79 forming the outlet end thereof. Thesleeve is supported within the shell on a plurality of longitudinallyspaced annular supports 82 extending between said shell and sleeve. Eachof said supports has a plurality of openings 83 so that the spacebetween the shell and sleeve defines an annular bypass passage asindicated at 85.

A pair of imperforate end plates 87 and 88 are mounted in the sleeve 76and extend thereacross outwardly from the plates 78 and 79,respectively. Conveniently, an apertured baffle plate 90 also extendsacross sleeve 76 between the plates 78 and 87 for uniformly distributingthe gas flow into the inlet end of the chamber 74.

An inlet conduit 92 is carried in a shouldered aperture 93 in the endcap 71 with the inner end of said conduit projecting through ashouldered aperture 94 in the end plate 87 so that said conduit forms agas flow inlet for the chamber 74. An outlet conduit 96 is carried in ashouldered aperture 98 in the end cap 72 with the inner end of saidconduit being carried in a shouldered aperture 100 in the end plate 88so that the conduit 96 forms a gas flow outulet for the chamber 74.

The gas flow inlet for the bypass passage 85 is formed by an opening 102in the end plate 87, and the gas flow outlet for said passage is formedby an outlet conduit 104- carried in a shouldered aperture 106 in theend cap 72. The conduits 104 and 96 are joined, as at 110, and a valve112 is mounted in the juncture 110. Said valve is movable between itsfull line position shown in FIG. 6 in which the exhaust gases passsuccessively through the inlet conduit 92 and chamber 74 and are thendischarged through the outlet conduit 96 and its dotted line positionshown in FIG. 6 in which said gases pass from the inlet conduit 92through the inlet opening 102, whereupon they move through the bypasspassage 85 and are discharged through the conduit 104.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is like that shown in FIG. 6 except forgas flow inlet and outlet arrangement. Thus, the converter illustratedin FIG. 7 comprises an elongated shell 115 closed at its ends by a pairof end caps 117 and 118 rigidly connected thereto. The conversionchamber 120 adapted to hold the catalytic material is carried within theshell 115 in spaced relation thereto. Said chamber is formed by a sleeve122 and a pair of longitudinally spaced apertured plates 123 and 124extending thereacross with the plate 123 forming the inlet end of thechamber and the plate 124 forming the outlet end thereof. The sleeve issupported within the shell on a plurality of longitudinally spacedannular supports 125 extending between said shell and sleeve. Each ofsaid supports has a plurality of openings 126 so that the spacee betweensaid shell and sleeve defines an annular bypass passage as indicated at128.

A pair of end plates 130 and 131 are mounted in the sleeve 122 andextend thereacross outwardly from the plates 123 and 124, respectively.Conveniently, an apertured baffle plate 133 extends across sleeve 122between the plates 123 and 130 for uniformly distributing the gas flowin to the inlet end of the chamber 120.

An inlet conduit 135 is carried in a shouldered aperture 136 in the endcap 117 with the inner end of said conduit projecting through ashouldered aperture 137 in the end plate 130 so that said conduit formsa gas flow inlet for the chamber 120. An outlet conduit 140 is carriedin aligned shouldered apertures 141 and 142 in the end cap 118 and endplate 131, respectively. The inner end of the conduit 140 terminatesbetween the end plate 131 and the chamber plate 124 so that said conduitforms a gas flow outlet for the chamber 120.

The gas flow inlet for the bypass passage 128 is formed by an inletconduit 144 carried in a shouldered aperture 146 in end cap 117 with theinner end of said conduit terminating between said end cap and the endplate 130. The gas flow outlet for the passage 128 is formed by anopening 148 formed in the end plate 131.

As shown, the inlet conduits 135 and 144 are joined, as at 150, and avalve 152 is mounted at the juncture 150. Said valve is movable betweenits full line position shown in FIG. 7 in which the exhaust gases passsuccessively through the conduit 135 and chamber 120 and are thendischarged through the outlet conduit 140 and its dotted line positionshown in FIG. 7 in which said gases pass successively through the inletconduit 144 and passage 128, whereupon they are discharged through theopening 148 and conduit 140.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 differs from the embodiments previouslydescribed primarily in the arrangement of the gas flow inlets andoutlets. Thus, the converter illustrated in FIG. 8 comprises anelongated outer shell 155 closed at its end by a pair of end caps 157and 158 rigidly connected thereto. The conversion chamber 160 adapted tohold the catalytic material is disposed Within the shell 155 in spacedrelation thereto. Said chamber is formed by a sleeve 162 having a pairof longitudinally spaced apertured plates 163 and 164 extendingthereacross with the plate 163 forming the inlet end of the chamber andthe plate 164 forming the outlet end thereof. The sleeve is supportedwithin the shell on a plurality of longitudinally spaced annularsupports 166 extending between said shell and sleeve. Each of saidsupports has a plurality of openings 167 so that the space between theshell and sleeve defines an annular bypass passage as indicated at 170.

An end plate 172 is mounted in the sleeve 162 and extends thereacrossoutwardly from the plate 163. Conveniently, an apertured baffle plate174 also extends across the sleeve 162 bet-ween the plates 163 and 172for uniformly distributing the gas fiow into the inlet end of thechamber 160.

An inlet conduit 176 forming the gas flow inlet for the chamber 160 iscarried in aligned shouldered apertures 178 and 179 in the end cap 157and the end plate 172, respectively, with the inner end of said conduitterminating between the plates 172 and 174. An inlet conduit 180 formingthe gas flow inlet for the bypass passage 170 is carried in a shoulderedaperture 182 in end cap 157. The chamber 160 and passage 170 have acommon gasflow outlet formed by an outlet conduit 185 mounted in ashouldered aperture 187 in end cap 158 with the inner end of saidconduit terminating between said end cap and the plate 164.

The conduits 176 and 180 are joined, as at 188, and a valve 190 ismounted in the juncture 188. Said valve is movable between its full lineposition shown in FIG. 8 in which the exhaust gases pass successivelythrough the inlet conduit 176 and chamber 160 and are discharged throughthe outlet conduit 185 and its dotted line position shown in FIG. 8 inwhich said gases pass successively through the inlet conduit 180 andpassage 170 and are discharged through the outlet conduit 185.

While theembodiment shown in FIGS. l-S has been described as having apair of conversion chambers and the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6-8 havebeen described as having a single conversion chamber, it is to beunderstood, of course, that any desired number of said chambers may beemployed in any of the embodiments depending upon the number ofapertured chamber end wall-forming plates that are employed.

We claim:

1. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream, comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, first means forming a conversion chamber in said shellhaving an inlet end and an outlet end at the opposite ends thereof andadapted to hold catalytic material for removing the noxious pollutantsfrom the exhaust gases passing therethrough, second meansinterconnecting said shell and first means supporting said chamber inspaced relation to said shell along the length of said chamber, saidsecond means permitting gas flow therethrough whereby the space betweensaid chamber and shell forms an open ended annular bypass passageextending completely around said chamber, an end plate mounted on saidfirst means between said outlet end and the end cap adjacent thereto,gas flow inlet-forming means in open communication with said chamber andbypass passage, a first gas outlet conduit carried in one of said endcaps with its inner end terminating between said outlet end of saidchamber and said end plate, a second gas outlet conduit carried in saidone end cap with its inner end terminating between said one end cap andsaid end plate, and valve means operatively connected to said first andsecond outlet conduits for selectively directing the gas flow throughthe chamber or said bypass passage.

2. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream, comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, an elongated sleeve carried in said shell and adapted tohold catalytic material for removing the noxious pollutants from theexhaust gases passing therethrough, at least four apertured platesdisposed in longitudinally spaced relationship and extending across saidshell, said apertured plates defining a plurality of longitudinallyspaced chambers along the length of said sleeve with the outermost pairof said plates forming an inlet end and outlet end for the outermostpairs of said chambers, means adapted to be connected to source ofpressurized air disposed between a pair of said apertured platesdefining the ends of a pair of adjacent chambers, means supporting saidsleeve in spaced relation to said shell to form a bypass passage aroundsaid sleeve, first gas flow inlet-forming means in open communicationwith said sleeve, second gas flow inlet-forming means in opencommunication with said bypass passage, at least one gas flowoutlet-forming means in open communication with said chamber and bypasspassage, and valve means operatively connected to said first and secondgas flow inlet-forming means for selectively directing the gas flowthrough said chambers or said bypass passage.

3. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, first means forming a conversion chamber in said shellhaving an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to hold catalyticmaterial for removing the noxious pollutants from the exhaust gasespassing therethrough, a pair of end plates mounted on said first meansbetween said chamber inlet and outlet ends and said end caps, secondmeans supporting said chamber in spaced relation to said shell to form abypass passage around said chamber, a first inlet conduit carried in oneof said end caps with its inner end terminating between the inlet end ofsaid chamber and the adjacent end plate to dispose said conduit in opencommunication with said chamber, a second inlet conduit canied in saidone end cap with its inner end terminating between said one end cap andthe end plate adjacent the inlet end of said chamber to dispose saidconduit in open communication with said bypass passage, a

first outlet conduit carried in the other of said end caps with itsinner end terminating between the outlet end of said chamber and the endplate adjacent thereto to dispose said conduit in open communicationwith said chamber, a second outlet conduit carried in said other end capwith its inner end terminating between said other end cap and end plateadjacent the outlet end of the chamber to dispose said conduit in opencommunication with said bypass passage, and valve means operativelyconnected to said first and second inlet conduits for selectivelydirecting the gas flow through the chamber or said bypass passage.

4. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream, comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, first means forming a conversion chamber in said shellhaving an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to hold catalyticmaterial for removing the noxious pollutants from the exhaust gasespassing therethrough, second means supporting said chamber in spacedrelation to the shell to form a bypass passage around said chamber, apair of end plates mounted on said first means between said chamberinlet and outlet ends and said end caps, a first inlet conduit carriedin one of said end caps with its inner end terminating between saidinlet end of said chamber and the adjacent end plate to dispose saidconduit in open communication with said chamber, a second inlet conduitcarried in said one end cap with its inner end terminating between saidone end cap and the end plate adjacent the inlet end of said chamber todispose said second inlet conduit in open communication with said bypasspassage, a first outlet conduit carried in the other of said end capswith its inner end terminating between the outlet end of said chamberand the end plate adjacent thereto to dispose said first outlet conduitin open communication with said chamber, a second outlet conduit carriedin said other end cap with its inner end terminating between said otherend cap and the' end plate adjacent the outlet end of the chamber todispose said second outlet conduit in open communication with bypasspassage, and valve means located in at least one of said inlet conduitsor outlet conduits for selectively directing the gas flow through saidchamber or said bypass passage.

5. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream, comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, first means forming a conversion chamber in said shellhaving an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to hold catalyticmaterial for removing the noxious pollutants from the exhaust gasespassing therethrough, second means supporting said chamber in spacedrelation to said shell to form a bypass passage around said chamber, apair of end plates mounted on said first means between said chamberinlet and outlet ends and said end caps, an inlet conduit carried in oneof said end caps with its inner end terminating between the inlet end ofsaid chamber and the end plate adjacent the inlet end of said chamber,an opening formed in said end plate adjacent the inlet end of saidchamber, a first outlet conduit carried in the other of said end capswith its inner end terminating between the outlet end of said chamberand the end plate adjacent thereto to dispose said first outlet conduitin open communication with said chamber, a second outlet conduit carriedin said other end cap with its inner end terminating between said otherend cap and the end plate adjacent the outlet end of said chamber todispose said second outlet conduit in open communication with saidbypass passage, and valve means located in said outlet conduits forselectively directing the gas flow through said chamber or bypasspassage.

6. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream, comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, first means forming a conversion chamber in said shellhaving an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to hold catalyticmaterial for removing the noxious pollutants from the exhaust gasespassing therethrough, second means supporting said chamber in spacedrelation to said shell to form a bypass passage around said chamber, apair of end plates mounted on said first means between said chamberinlet and outlet ends and said end caps, a first inlet conduit carriedin one of said end caps with its inner end terminating between the inletend of said chamber and the adjacent end plate to dispose said firstinlet conduit in open communication with said chamber, a second inletconduit carried in said one end cap with its inner end terminatingbetween said one end cap and the end plate adjacent the inlet end ofsaid chamber to dispose said second inlet conduit in open communicationwith said bypass passage, an outlet conduit carried in the other of saidend caps with its inner end terminating between the outlet end of saidchamber and the end plate adjacent thereto to dispose said outletconduit in open communication with said chamber, an opening formed inthe end plate adjacent the outlet end of the chamber, and valve meanslocated in said inlet conduits for selectively directing the gas flowthrough said chamber or said bypass passage.

7. A catalytic converter for removing noxious pollutants from an exhaustgas stream, comprising an elongated shell, end caps closing the ends ofsaid shell, first means forming a conversion chamber in said shellhaving an inlet end and an outlet end and adapted to hold catalyticmaterial for removing the noxious pollutants from the exhaust gasespassing therethrough, second means supporting said chamber in spacedrelation to said shell to form a bypass passage around said chamber, anend plate mounted on said first means between said inlet end and the endcap adjacent thereto, a first inlet conduit carried in the end capadjacent the chamber inlet end with its inner end terminating betweensaid end plate and the chamber inlet end to dispose said first inletconduit in open communication with said chamber, a second inlet conduitcarried in the end cap adjacent the chamber inlet end with its inner endterminating between the end cap in which it is carried and said endplate to dispose second inlet conduit in open communication with saidbypass passage, an outlet conduit carried in the end cap adjacent thechamber outlet end and in open communication with said chamber andbypass passage, and valve means located in said inlet conduits forselectively directing the gas flow through the chamber or said bypasspassage.

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